Burmese Opposition Groups Challenge Junta's Constitution

by Mungpi
Thursday, 14 February 2008 00:00

Burmese opposition groups in exile today said they have completed drafting a federal constitution and came down heavily on the ruling junta's constitution, which is being drafted by handpicked delegates for an open debate.
The Federal Constitution Drafting and Coordinating Committee, formed with representatives of Burmese opposition groups including armed rebels, said its draft constitution is designed to reflect the peoples' will and will guarantee democracy, equality and self-determination.

The FCDCC, during a press conference in Bangkok today, said it has completed the second draft of the constitution, "Federal Republic of the Union of Burma", which is endorsed by over 90 Burmese democracy and ethnic organizations and more than 120 individuals.

Dr. Lian H Sakhong, Secretary of the FCDCC, said, "We challenge Senior General Than Shwe, Burma's supreme leader, to make the SPDC's 7-step roadmap more inclusive and democratic as we in the FCDCC process have. Our process is free from censorship and control."

With Burma's armed resistance groups including the Karen National Union, Burma's longest operating insurgent group, endorsing, the draft constitution is designed to reflect the views of the many ethnic nationalities of Burma, Sakhong said.

Burma, which has remained without a constitution for nearly two decades, has been plagued by civil war, and ethnic insurgency, since its independence in 1948.

While several groups of ethnic insurgents seek greater autonomy and self-determination, several groups have demanded the right to secede or independence, after decades of political mistrust under successive military regimes.

Though the international community including the United Nations have called on the ruling military regime to implement democratic reforms through a process of national reconciliation, several neighboring countries, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has said it fears that ethnic nationalities' demand for independence will add to greater political turmoil if democracy is in place.

Sakhong, however, said the FCDCC's draft federal constitution has strictly emphasized on the building of a genuine federal system that, however, excludes the right to secession.

"We are saying that if there is a genuine federal system that guarantees democracy, equality and self-determination, ethnic nationalities are willing to remain under the federal umbrella," Sakhong said.

"Since the draft constitution of "Federal Republic of the Union of Burma", strongly guarantees equality and self-determination for all nationalities, we see no need for and in no way, will demand or exercise the right to secession," FCDCC said in a statement released today.

"We conclude that the much trumpeted "without the SPDC military clique, Burma will disintegrate" is nothing but the SPDC's propaganda to instill fear and concern in the international community," the committee added.

While the FCDCC claims that the draft constitution has been endorsed by opposition political parties as well as armed ethnic insurgents, several ceasefire armed groups that have signed peace agreements with the ruling junta failed to add their views.

However, the Kachin Independence Army, one of Burma's longest operating insurgent group, which has signed a ceasefire agreement with the junta, said it is willing to accept any constitution that includes the KIA's proposal.

The KIA/KIO, whose delegates attended the junta's 14 year-long national convention, submitted a 19-point proposal in the last round of the national convention. However, the junta sidelined the KIA's proposal and failed to include them as guidelines for the drafting of the constitution, which is being drafted by a 54-member committee.

Major Gun Maw, spokesperson of the KIO, told Mizzima, "We are ready to accept any constitution drafted by any group as long as it includes our 19-point proposal, because our proposal reflects the true desire of the Kachin people."

Sakhong said, though the KIO has not formally endorsed the FCDCC's draft constitution, as the points mentioned in the KIO's proposal, which points out the necessity for power sharing between the state and centre, is consistent with the draft constitution.

"The KIO's proposal is consistent with the draft constitution," Sakhong said.

Meanwhile, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), another armed insurgent group that has signed a ceasefire agreement with the junta, said it believes that the government should be directly represented by the people.

"We believe that any government should be represented by the people itself. So, we will support any constitution that reflects the peoples' desire," a UWSA spokesperson told Mizzima.